Lisfranc Did Fusion Help Your Pain

Deano73 - You are so lucky and you have given me hope. Thank you for sharing your experience and your results. The more I comb through these posts and talk to people the more fusion seems inevitable. I am so happy that you are back to some somewhat normal living - hey 90% is a lot better than 40% (my current state after 15 months). Yes, it's true - I fear going to the mailbox and the craziest part about it is that I've sort of accepted that as a new normal - well, no more. Fusion it is. I know it's another round of recovery and the like but if I can get back to my old normal or even close I would be ecstatic. Thank you sooooo much for your response. You have been very helpful. Take care.

Hi Deano it's me again...I see in your post here that it was about 9 months before you were running again after fusion but I am wondering how soon (or long) after the fusion did you become weight bearing? When were you able to just walk un-aided? Also, was the pain during the fusion recovery equal to the ORIF? Thanks for your help as always.

I don't 100% recall, but i think I was in the walking cast around 8 weeks and the boot 2 weeks after that. Things progressed well and was hobbling along a few weeks later. The pain was the same as the ORIF, but I think I have a pretty good threshold for that kind of thing. The swelling was greater this time. I remeber asking them to cut the dressing post op due to the pressure.
Un aided walking -- i think about 12weeks in total.
This is an entirely different surg. then ORIF. With the fusion u are just waiting for a union of bone, and not a delicate soft tissue repair. the bone fuses about 85% on its own with the NWB. Its the WB that brings it to the 100% mark due to the use of the foot on the wt. This adds the bone density u lack when u r off your foot. The bones will lookd grey on the xray durring the NWB stage. Then as u progress u will notice the milky wjite color coming buck to the bone. U never really get all the density u lostback, but I was told that is is a nominal amt. and u will never know.
Today I hiked a 4 mile trail with rough terrain. Took it gingerly on the latter half of the trip, but still had no discomfort. I know is I be good to the foot, it will be good to me the following day.
Let us know if u decide on the surg. and i'll try to check the boards more often for u. Great people on here that can all relate, just try to filter out all the neg. and focus on the pos.

I had a 2mm displacement lisfranc last june of 2011. they should have operated but did not and now 9 months later I have arthritis and pain when i walk. when I walk for a while it is better but when I rest or in the morning I get up I limp badly. I am considering having the fusion. Any recent advise would be appreciated. thanks Frank

Hi. So I went ahead with fusion surgery about 8 weeks ago and I am still NWB. I have an air cast though so I can at least take it off when I'm resting. My swelling is pretty bad if I have my foot down too long and it hurts a lot but I'm a tough cookie. Just thought I'd let you know what happened with me and I'll keep you updated on my WB progress later on. I am so glad to hear of your progress and I hope I get to that level as quickly as possible. You give me hope of walking pain free sometime again in this life. I'll be in touch!

Deano73-- I was just diagnosed by John Y. Kwon @ MGH who wants to do the bone fusion between my first 2 metatarsals. Who else should I consult? Thanks so much

i am recovering from my second operation on my Lisfranc fracture.  This time it was a fusion op and I have been in less pain in the last five weeks than I have been for 9 months after the last op .  I am only six weeks on and nobly just starting weight-bearing but am hopeful.  Good luck.  8 out of 10 so far. Nicky

I have been reading posts about fusion surgery for a few months.  I have tried everything possible to remedy extreme arthritis following a stress fracture from running.  I have not been able to run in a year and a half and it is killing me mentally.  My only option is to have fusion surgery, but I am frightened to go through with it.  Many posts I have read are very discouraging until I found this particular discussion.  I am 46 and would love to be able to go back to running.  Do any of you have experience with maintaining an active lifestyle following this surgery?  I know the rugby player has had a positive experience.  That is very exciting for me hear, but I am assuming he is much younger than I.  Thanks for any input you have.  I am so happy to hear there are positive experiences out there.

Hi Deano

(I actually just clicked on add to friends, it's probably send you a friend request... you can just ignore it if you like - thought it would just add you at my end like a favorite..).

Anyway - I have a quick question for you if I may. Brief background though - I had a windsurf accident in Hawaii about 2 months ago now, which resulted in a primary fusion 1-3 TMT. I had surgey 6 weeks ago, and have just started weight bearing (walking cast). Everything's going well - I had no pain after week 4 really, X-rays look good & so far no pain on early weight bearing (I'm still taking it slowly so have probably only put about 50% max weight through my foot so far).

I'm 39 - which looking at your username is probably the same age as you. I was also a keen runner prior to this injury, both for daily exercise & long distance runs), and I'm just trying to gauge how/if I should return to running. I've discussed it with my surgeon - because I had to have my big toe TMT fused (plus next 2), he's not giving me that good a chance of being able to run, though there's a chance... He's also suggested there's a fair chance that I'll add extra stress to the next joint up (towards ankle) that will likely result in arthritis in the future if I do run - though he jokingly said: Hey, we'll just fix that also when it happens (another fusion).

I came across one of your posts, and it looks like you've run again post fusion & I'm just curious how it's been for you? Did you have your 1st TMT fused also? For me it's a tough one... Running is something I loved - should I challenge myself to get back into it and accept that arthritis may be in my future if I do , or do I just accept my running days are over & look to other sports... Don't worry - I'm not looking for you to answer that for me, just curious how your progress went & whether you had similar thoughts in the early stages of recovery...

Cheers,

Joe

Hi, I am 46 also and had fusion surgery on 3 of the 4 midfoot joints (from a lisfranc injury) almost 2 years ago. I have found it to be very successful in that I can do everything that I need to, and mostly in comfort. Although I'm not a runner, or as active as I was in my 30's, I still work in the outdoors and can walk up to 5km on it fairly easily, as long as I'm wearing the custom orthotics. I haven't tested my foot on any greater distance as yet. It takes a long while to learn how to use the foot after the fusion and I find now that the muscles in my opposite hip get very tight and sore at times, due to the altered gait. I'm planning on starting swimming again soon and am keen to jump back on my bicycle also as I feel my foot is now ready to give it a go again. Hope this helps...

I had a crushed mid foot and at the initial surgery they should have just fused it. I later developed terrible arthritis and jagged joint space. Hurt every step. They originally did not want to fuse it because they said I was young ( early 50s at the time) and they di snot want to restrict mid foot. In hind sight if 65% of all LisFranc go on to develop Arthritis you would think they would just fuse it.
Last year I wen to a podiatrist and he tried to fuse the first three but he did a terrible job.
I recently just had a second attempt with an Orthopedic surgeon with bone graft, stem cells from my hip, internal hardware and I am off the foot for 6 weeks. I am in to week 3 as i write.
I do know that one thing that helped some was wearing shoes by Dansko cause the soles are so stiff that your mid foot won't bend. It just minimizes some pain.
Good luck.

Ps You are welcome to contact me if you get too down. Edna

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I fell down two stairs and obtained a lisfranc injury (four fractures). I had the initial surgery in 2/2014 for hardware placement and hardware removal in 5/2014. I have been having quite a bit of pain and have arthritis in the areas repaired. I recently visited my ortho surgeon and the possibilty of joint fusion was discussed. I am wondering if i will be able to run again if this procedure is done. I haven't been able to run since my injury and would really like to be able to do that again. Is there anyone that has had the fusion done that can comment on this issue????

I am glad to hear that! Im so scared about all this, I was misdiagnosed for 6 months, walking on a broken foot and finally had a ct scan that showed a lis franc fracture, I now have a plate and 7 screws and had a bone graft. I am 3 weeks post op today and am tired, frustrated and scared about recovery.

Hi sunshine2345. I had lisfranc fusion a year and a half ago. Metal plate and 4 screws. Recovered well and resumed normal activities. However lately the foot swells daily. It gets hot and swollen. Painful only at night. Sounds like this happened to you too?